English, Richard (2004). Armed Struggle: The History of the IRA. Pan Books. p.404. ISBN 0-330-49388-4. A major concern for the establishment will be to contain the disaffected, that disturbingly large number of people who voted for Sinn Fein and/or left-wing candidates. While coercion is an option, it is not the first choice. The more sophisticated strategy of shaping the opposition is favoured. It worked in Britain and no doubt it will be tried here. The reality of course will be different because triangulation comes at a price. Even with a comfortable lead in opinion polls, there is no realistic possibility of Sinn Fein winning an overall majority and will therefore be dependent on the support of others to form a government. Just as a convoy travels at the speed of the slowest ship, a coalition depends for sustainability on the approval of the most recalcitrant participant. Introducing any radical measure would risk bringing down the coalition and with it a mauling from disgruntled middle-class voters believing they have been conned. Mellody Hobson, “The US must confront financial illiteracy head-on,” Financial Times (London), 18 December 2021.

I think this is entirely correct. And I would not challenge someone who sought to justify that violent response. I think that the violent response should be kept in mind when criticising the UDR (and RUC). Xinhua, “Chinese embassy in Ireland expresses opposition to China-related motion passed by Irish Senate,” 3 December 2021 ( https://bit.ly/3EtE2MV). The Sinn Fein decision to reverse its long-held position’s on this issue and at this point in time is revealing. Party president Mary Lou McDonald has made clear her intention to lead the next government in Dublin. To do so, party strategists are advising that it is necessary to win over a significant chunk of middle-class and hitherto hostile voters. In Blairite terms this is known as triangulation i.e. appealing beyond your base by dropping long-held principles. Recognising what is at stake, several high-powered commentators, here and abroad, are advocating a Keynesian approach to deal with the anticipated recession. In reality, they recognise the threat a second more intensive round of austerity would pose for capitalism. However, this would be a difficult option for a Dublin government that doesn’t control its own currency and adheres slavishly to EU regulations preventing state intervention.To reassure a conservative section of society that Sinn Fein will not disrupt the status quo, certain guarantees have to be given. Pearse Doherty, for example, was recently reported as saying that big business has nothing to fear from his party if in government. The ultimate comfort for Indo readers, though, is to definitively ditch any connection with the past. Nothing can illustrate this better than adopting the very measure that was specifically introduced to smash the movement that gave birth to New Sinn Féin.

This is not to say, of course, that the left should oppose the ending of partition. Breaking the constitutional link with Britain must create a new set of conditions in the country as a whole, and all demanding answers. Would the population, for example, be satisfied with a health service not fit for purpose, prepared to accept a never-ending housing crisis, or remain content with the ever-increasing inequality between its citizens? A way must be found to convince unionists, and particularly working-class unionists, that change is becoming virtually inevitable and, thereafter, that it is in their self-interest to influence positively how this change takes place and where it leads. Little of this will come as surprise to most readers of Socialist Voice. However it is worth reminding ourselves that many well meaning people are misled by the establishment media both print and broadcast. It is important that we maintain and where possible increase our drive to correct this false propaganda. In the course of doing so it would also be worth raising a few queries about Seanad Éireann’s odd position in relation to British state’s employees condoning of torture and collusion in the northern jurisdiction. One could surely be forgiven for thinking that there is, at the very least, a serious absence of priorities by our unelected senators when they could devote their attention to self-serving allegations of events 5000 miles distant yet overlook a serious and well authenticated operational deficiency by a holder of high office in the Republic.This is deeply disturbing not to mention entirely misguided and wrong. Irish neutrality is not cosmetic piety. It is not a charming photograph on a tourist brochure to be changed at will. Neutrality is, on the contrary, an absolutely practical necessity for a small country such as ours.